The Kings have missed plenty when it comes to the draft since arriving in Sacramento, and the roughest stretch came in 2018. But buried in that uneven history are a few real wins - players who looked like smart bets on draft night and, in some cases, became far bigger names than anyone expected.
One important note: Dylan Cardwell doesn’t make this list because he was an undrafted signing, not a draft pick. The same goes for the 2026 NBA Draft, which is still too early to judge. That includes Darius Acuff Jr., who has a lot of pressure on him to succeed.
At No. 5 is Keegan Murray, the 2022 pick whose story is still being written. He has had a hard time settling into a groove in the league, and part of that has come from the Kings’ own issues slowing his development.
A season that was mostly wiped out by injuries didn’t help either. Even so, the talent is still there, and a younger roster around him could finally help bring it out.
Maxime Raynaud checks in at No. 4, and even with just one season in the books, the 2025 pick already looks like a steal. Taken 42nd overall, he climbed from second-round status to one of the top rookies in the league. Raynaud was a regular in the top five on the Kia Rookie Ladder, earned All-Rookie Second Team honors, and led all rookies in double-doubles for the 2025-2026 season.
Tyrese Haliburton lands at No. 3, and the Kings made the right move when they drafted him in 2020. The problem is what came after.
Trading him is the kind of decision Sacramento would love to have back, because Haliburton has developed into one of the league’s top point guards and the driving force behind the Pacers’ success in 2024-2025. He’s easily one of the best draft picks the Kings have ever made.
No. 2 is De'Aaron Fox, selected in 2017 and eventually the face of the franchise for most of eight seasons. Sacramento used him as the centerpiece at point guard, and that was part of the reason they felt comfortable moving on from Haliburton.
But Fox is no longer in Sacramento, and the Kings are left without either of the point guards who once defined their backcourt. His frustration with the organization’s inconsistency and its inability to build a winning roster pushed him toward the exit, and that departure helped set the rebuild in motion.
At the top is Peja Stojakovic, the 1996 draftee who many consider the greatest King of all time. He was a key piece of Rick Adelman’s strong run in Sacramento from 1998 to 2006, a stretch that included eight straight playoff appearances. Stojakovic’s resume in that era was loaded: three All-Star selections, two Three-Point Contest titles, and an All-NBA Second Team nod in 2004.
In Other News...
Kings Face Pressure On Final Two-Way Spot After Latest Setback
The Kings are still sorting out the final two-way slot on their roster, and the latest wrinkle came when Marquel Sutton landed with the Bulls on an Exhibit 10 contract after Chicago took note of what he showed during Summer League. For Sacramento, it is another reminder that the back end of the roster can move quickly this time of year, especially for a team trying to keep developmental options close while also leaving room for upside.
One name worth watching is Elias Ralph, the young Canadian forward who has already been around the Kings orbit through workouts and Summer League. Sacramento likes the blend of scoring and defensive potential he brings, but the organization also knows he is still a work in progress before he is ready for NBA minutes. That leaves the Kings weighing immediate readiness against long-term appeal as they try to settle a spot that could quietly matter more than it looks. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Mogbo Faces A Crucial Kings Opportunity This Season
Jonathan Mogbo enters this season with a real path in front of him, and the Kings need to see what he can do with it. Sacramento has two players on two-way contracts, and with the salary cap tight, the club cannot simply move them onto the main roster right now. For a young player in that spot, every practice rep and every chance to prove he belongs carries extra weight, because a strong year can change how the organization views his future.
The challenge is that the two-way route comes with built-in limits, from games played to playoff availability, and the Kings are still weighing veteran additions that could cut into minutes. Even so, the door does not look closed for long. Roster openings are expected to come later, and if Mogbo makes the most of the opportunity in front of him, he could put himself in position to be more than a temporary piece in Sacramento. [Read more 🡒]